JP2006121391A - Radio communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide radio communication equipment capable of reducing the frequency of call collision when transmission is operated at the same time. <P>SOLUTION: When a slave station 200 with a radio unit 210 mounted on an air conditioner body 220 communicates with a control station 100 including a radio unit 110 which operates as a controller, transmission is started with delay, based upon a delay time which is stored in a delay time storage part 204 and set to a different value for each air conditioner, for an event for stating communication from the air conditioner body 220, and then a call collision is prevented when a plurality of air conditioners generate events for starting communication at the same time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication apparatus for performing communication by wireless communication.

  In recent years, there is an urgent need to develop and popularize communication infrastructure in the home, and various technologies are being studied both inside and outside the country. Communication infrastructure in the home, that is, home network includes a network for transmitting large amounts of data such as video and music information, and low-speed and inexpensive equipment for controlling various home appliances in the home. A system network is needed.

  In recent years, development of home systems that are safe, comfortable, and environmentally friendly has been promoted by connecting equipment such as air conditioners and equipment such as sensors through an equipment network and performing linked operation. For example, as an example, a home system using Echonet has been proposed (see Non-Patent Document 1).

  In Echonet, home appliances, sensors, controllers, and the like are connected via a wired or wireless network, and the controller performs centralized control of air-conditioning equipment in the network, monitoring of security sensors, and the like. An important issue in the construction of this system is the ease of installation and expansion. There is an urgent need to construct a wireless network that does not require wiring work during installation.

  On the other hand, in recent wireless communication, digital wireless communication apparatuses that perform voice and data communication by the TDMA system have become widespread, and the construction of home systems using a TDMA wireless network has been promoted. In a home system in which a network is constructed by wireless communication, a wireless communication device provided in a controller in the system is a wireless control station, and a wireless communication device provided in other white goods, sensors, etc. is a wireless dependent station. The controller and each device are connected by wireless communication.

  Next, the communication operation in the wireless network based on the TDMA system will be described.

  A control station on the wireless network periodically transmits a control signal and simultaneously waits for a wireless signal for establishing a wireless link from a dependent station in each reception slot. At this time, the control station notifies the communication frequency waiting in the corresponding frame by the control signal, and waits for the radio signal for establishing the radio link from the dependent station while changing the communication frequency waiting for each frame. On the other hand, the subordinate station receives the control signal transmitted from the control station, establishes and maintains the TDMA and standby frequency synchronization with the control station, and continues the standby state. When transmitting data from the subordinate station to the control station, the subordinate station selects an arbitrary slot from each receiving slot in which the control station waits for a radio signal for establishing a radio link from the subordinate station, and performs control. A frequency along the communication frequency that the control station in the corresponding frame notified by the signal waits is selected, a request for establishing a radio link is transmitted to the control station, and reception of the reception slot corresponding to the transmission slot is started. The control station that has received the wireless link establishment request from the subordinate station fixes the communication frequency of the received slot and the transmission slot corresponding to the received slot, and thereafter transmits a response signal in the transmission slot. Bidirectional wireless communication is started with the dependent station that has transmitted the link establishment request.

When transmitting data from the control station to the dependent station, the dependent station always receives the slot for transmitting the control signal transmitted by the control station. Without establishing a wireless link, the control station superimposes the transmission data on the control signal and transmits the data to the dependent station by broadcast communication. The dependent station receives the transmission data sent together with the control signal. , Process. When the control station performs data transmission by broadcast communication, an identification code designating the destination dependent station is added to the control signal or transmission data and transmitted. On the dependent station side, the received signal is the data addressed to itself. Whether or not the received data is processed. The destination can be specified by specifying a single subordinate station, a plurality of subordinate stations in the same group, or all subordinate stations, and individual data transmission for each subordinate station, or simultaneous data to a plurality of subordinate stations. Transmission is possible.

  Next, the operation of the home system using the above-described wireless network will be described. Here, an example of a home system composed of a controller as a control station and an air conditioner as a plurality of subordinate stations will be shown. Each air conditioner can control the power ON / OFF, temperature setting, etc. from the controller, and the user operates each air conditioner from the operation panel of the controller. In addition, the controller periodically receives current room temperature data from each air conditioner and displays the data on the display panel.

  For example, when the user turns on the air conditioner, the air conditioner to be turned on is selected on the operation panel of the controller, and the power is turned on. In accordance with the operation of the user, the controller transmits the transmission data of the power ON command to the corresponding air conditioner by broadcast communication. The air conditioner that has received the power-on notification turns on the power, and when the power-on is completed normally, establishes a bidirectional wireless link with the controller and notifies the controller that the power is on.

  Then, the controller switches the operation state of the air conditioner displayed on the display panel to the ON state, and notifies the user that the air conditioner has been normally turned on. In addition, the user can turn on / off the power of all the air conditioners at the same time. When the user performs the simultaneous turn-on operation, the controller sends the power ON command transmission data to all the air conditioners. Sending by information communication. At this time, by setting the destination of the power-on command to all the dependent stations, the power-on command is notified to all the air conditioners with one command transmission. Then, each air conditioner that has received the power ON notification turns on the power, and when the power ON is completed normally, establishes a bidirectional wireless link with the controller and notifies the controller that the power is on, Each time the controller receives a notification from the air conditioner, it switches the operation state of each air conditioner displayed on the display panel to the ON state, and notifies the user that each air conditioner has been normally turned on.

In addition, the controller periodically transmits a command requesting room temperature information to all air conditioners. The command for requesting room temperature information at this time is performed by broadcast communication in which the designation of the destination is designated by all the dependent stations, and the transmission of the command is completed to all the air conditioners by one transmission. Each air conditioner that has received the command establishes a bidirectional wireless link with the controller and transmits room temperature information, and the controller updates the room temperature information for each air conditioner displayed on the display panel.
ECHONET SPECIFICATION Part 1 Outline of ECHONET

  However, in a wireless communication apparatus that transmits a request for establishing a wireless link from a dependent station to a control station at an arbitrary timing, an event that starts communication with the control station at the same time in a dependent station in the same wireless system occurs. However, there is a problem in that the communication start request sent from each subordinate station to the control station collides and communication becomes difficult.

  For example, when a home system wireless network is constructed using a conventional wireless communication device, a home system controller (control station) simultaneously controls a plurality of devices (subordinate stations) by broadcast communication, and a plurality of devices When notifying some kind of response, there are many cases where the transmission timing of the establishment request of the radio link transmitted from each subordinate station to the control station often overlaps, and there is a problem that the frequency of occurrence of reception errors in the control station increases. It was.

  In the wireless communication device of the present invention, when an event for simultaneously starting communication with a control station occurs in dependent stations in the same wireless system, requests for starting communication transmitted from the respective dependent stations to the control station collide. It is required not to.

  The present invention distributes a request for starting communication sent from each subordinate station to the control station when an event for simultaneously starting communication with the control station occurs in subordinate stations in the same radio system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless communication apparatus that avoids collisions.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the wireless communication device of the present invention determines in advance the time from the occurrence of an event that requires wireless communication to the transmission of a wireless communication start request for each wireless communication device. The main feature is to be determined by the method.

  In the wireless communication device of the present invention, when an event instructing the start of communication occurs and communication is started, the time from the occurrence of the event to the actual start of transmission of the wireless signal is predetermined for each wireless communication device. When a communication start event occurs simultaneously in multiple wireless communication devices, the transmission start timing collides, and communication failures such as transmission failure occur due to mutual wireless interference. There is an advantage of reducing the frequency of performing.

  It is an object of the present invention to reduce the frequency of occurrence of communication failures such as transmission failure due to mutual radio interference when transmission start timings collide when a plurality of wireless communication devices simultaneously generate communication start events. This is realized by delaying the time from the occurrence of a communication start event to the start of wireless communication based on the time information stored in the wireless communication device.

  In addition, the present invention reduces the frequency at which transmission start timings collide when a communication start event occurs simultaneously in a plurality of wireless communication devices, and communication failures such as transmission failures occur due to mutual wireless interference. The object is realized by performing time division multiplex communication and determining a communication frequency or a communication slot at the start of communication based on unique information stored in the wireless communication device.

  In addition, the present invention reduces the frequency at which transmission start timings collide when a communication start event occurs simultaneously in a plurality of wireless communication devices, and communication failures such as transmission failures occur due to mutual wireless interference. The object is realized by performing time-division multiplex communication and determining a communication frequency or a communication slot at the start of communication by selecting means that selects based on a variable generated inside the wireless communication device.

A first aspect of the invention made to solve the above problems is a wireless unit that transmits and receives a wireless signal, a detecting unit that detects an event of wireless communication, and wireless communication after a wireless communication event is detected by the detecting unit. Storage means for storing time information for delaying the time until the start of communication, and after detecting an event of wireless communication by the detection means, the wireless communication is started by delaying the time based on the time information stored in the storage means Control means for controlling such that the timing of the start of transmission of a radio signal from the occurrence of a communication start event can be controlled based on the information stored in the storage means. By making the delay times stored in the different values different from each other, there is an effect of preventing a call collision when a transmission start event occurs at the same time.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problems, one section (hereinafter referred to as a frame) of a predetermined time interval is divided into a plurality of time slots, and an independent signal is transmitted in each time slot. A wireless communication apparatus for performing time division multiplexing wireless communication for performing communication, a wireless unit for transmitting and receiving wireless signals, a frame processing means for performing data processing of frames and slots for time division multiplexing communication, and communication A plurality of wireless communication devices, comprising storage means for storing information for switching slots used at times in different orders for each device, instruction means for instructing communication start, and control means for controlling the entire device When an event that starts communication at the same time occurs, the communication slot to be used at the time of communication is determined based on the information stored in the storage means. By setting the information in the storage means so as to Tsu bets transmitted, and has the effect of preventing a call collision.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problems, one section (hereinafter referred to as a frame) of a predetermined time interval is divided into a plurality of time slots, and an independent signal is transmitted in each time slot. A wireless communication apparatus for performing time division multiplexing wireless communication for performing communication, a wireless unit for transmitting and receiving wireless signals, a frame processing means for performing data processing of frames and slots for time division multiplexing communication, and communication A selection means for selecting a slot, an instruction means for instructing start of communication, and a control means for controlling the entire apparatus. When the start of communication is instructed by the instruction means, The transmission slot is selected on the basis of the variable generated in the above, and control is performed so that communication is performed using the selected slot. There are those having the effect of reducing the call collisions when the transmission start events occur simultaneously.

  A fourth invention made to solve the above-mentioned problem is to select a communication slot based on an elapsed time from the time of turning on the power, and an elapsed time from the time of turning on the power that is different for each wireless communication device. Since the communication slot is selected on the basis of the communication slot, there is an effect of reducing a call collision when a transmission start event occurs simultaneously in a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses.

  The fifth invention made to solve the above-mentioned problem is to select a communication slot based on the elapsed time from the previous communication, which differs from the previous communication time for each wireless communication device. Since the communication slot is selected based on the elapsed time, it has the effect of reducing call collision when a transmission start event occurs simultaneously in a plurality of wireless communication devices.

  A sixth invention made to solve the above-described problems is a control station that transmits a reference signal that is a reference for a frame and a slot used for time division multiplex communication, and a reference signal that is transmitted from the control station. The control station notifies a reception frequency waiting for transmission from the dependent station, and the dependent station waits for notification from the control station. Wireless communication apparatus that determines the transmission frequency to be used and performs transmission in accordance with the reception frequency of the slave station, and starts communication from the dependent station to the control station. One or both of the communication frequencies are operated so as to be used preferentially, and one or both of the communication slot and the communication frequency determined in advance for each dependent station. Those having the effect of reducing the call collisions when the transmission start events occur simultaneously in a plurality of dependent stations by operating to preferentially use.

According to a seventh invention for solving the above-described problem, one or both of a communication slot and a communication frequency preferentially used by a dependent station are determined based on a number assigned to each dependent station. In a wireless communication system composed of a plurality of communication devices, a number for determining one or both of a communication slot and a communication frequency in the wireless communication system is assigned so as not to overlap with each other in a plurality of dependent stations simultaneously. This has the effect of reducing call collision when a transmission start event occurs.

  An eighth invention made to solve the above-described problems is a control station that transmits a reference signal serving as a reference for a frame and a slot used for time division multiplex communication, and a reference signal transmitted from the control station. The control station notifies a reception frequency waiting for transmission from the dependent station, and the dependent station waits for notification from the control station. A wireless communication apparatus that determines a transmission frequency to be used and performs transmission according to the reception frequency of the slave station and starts communication from the dependent station to the control station. The communication slot and / or communication frequency is determined in a determined manner, and the one or both of the determined communication slot and communication frequency are preferentially used. Based on the variable generated inside the device for each subordinate station, it is transmitted simultaneously in a plurality of subordinate stations by operating to use one or both of the communication slot and communication frequency with priority. This has the effect of reducing call collision when a start event occurs.

(Embodiment 1)
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system in which a controller and an air conditioner are connected by a wireless network using the wireless communication apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram when three air conditioners are simultaneously turned on by the controller.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a control station having a function of controlling devices on the wireless network, and reference numeral 200 denotes a subordinate station including non-controlled devices (for example, air conditioners) on the wireless network controlled by the control station 100. In the example of FIG. 1, the dependent station 200 is obtained by connecting a radio unit 210 to an air conditioner main body 220. Although a plurality of dependent stations (air conditioners, etc.) on the wireless network can be connected, the configuration of each air conditioner is the same as that of the dependent station 200 of FIG.

  The control station 100 includes a controller unit 120 and a radio unit 110. The controller unit 120 includes a controller main body 121 that controls each device on the wireless network, manages and displays the state of each device, and an operation unit 122 that inputs an operation of the control station 100. The wireless unit 110 includes an antenna. 101, a wireless unit 102 that performs wireless signal communication, an event detection unit 103 that detects an event of a communication request from the controller main body 121 to each dependent station 200 on the wireless network, and a control unit that controls the entire wireless unit 110 109.

  In the dependent station 200, the wireless unit 210 includes an antenna 201, a wireless unit 202 that performs wireless signal communication, an event detection unit 203 that detects an event of a communication request from the air conditioner body 220 to the control station 100, and the control station 100. The delay time storage unit 204 stores a delay time for delaying the transmission start timing of the start of transmission to the communication unit 209 and the control unit 209 that controls the entire wireless unit 210.

  First, the operation of wireless communication in a standby state in which communication between the control station 100 and the dependent station 200 is not performed will be described.

The wireless unit 110 operates as a wireless control station, and each wireless unit 210 operates as a dependent station of the wireless unit 110. That is, the control unit 109 of the wireless unit 110 controls the wireless unit 102 to receive wireless signals from each wireless unit 210, and the control unit 209 of the wireless unit 210 receives wireless signals from the wireless unit 110. The wireless unit 202 is controlled.

  Next, in the system of FIG. 1, the operation of controlling the plurality of dependent stations 200 by the control station 100 will be described using an example of operation when the control station 100 controls the power ON of the plurality of dependent stations 200. .

  When the user turns on the plurality of dependent stations 200, the air conditioner is turned on from the operation unit 122. When the controller main body 121 detects an operation of turning on the simultaneous power supply of the air conditioner, it issues a request for turning on the simultaneous power supply of the air conditioner to the event detection unit 103 of the wireless unit 110. The event detection unit 103 notifies the control unit 109 of a request for turning on the simultaneous power supply of the air conditioner, and the control unit 109 controls the wireless unit 102 to transmit the request for turning on the simultaneous power supply.

  On the other hand, the radio unit 210 of each subordinate station 200 operates so as to receive a radio signal from the control station 100, and a radio signal from the control station 100 notifying the simultaneous power ON of the air conditioner is sent to each radio unit 202. Is received and transmitted to the control unit 209, the air conditioner main body 220 is notified of a request to turn on the air conditioner simultaneously. Each air conditioner main body 220 that has been notified of the request for turning on the simultaneous power supply of the air conditioner turns on the power, and issues a request for transmitting a response signal for turning on the air conditioner to the event detection unit 203 of the wireless unit 210. Upon receiving the transmission request, the event detection unit 203 requests the control unit 209 to transmit a response signal for turning on the air conditioner.

  When the control unit 209 receives the transmission request, the control unit 209 refers to the delay time storage unit 204 and controls the wireless unit 202 to transmit a response signal for turning on the air conditioner after the time stored in the delay time storage unit 204 has elapsed. To do. At this time, even if the slave stations 200 are simultaneously turned on by the simultaneous power-on notification from the control station 100, the delay time storage unit of each slave station 200 is set so that the transmission timing of the power-on response signal is not the same. It is necessary to store different values for the delay time set in 204. Then, the wireless unit 102 of the control station 100 sequentially receives the wireless signal of the power-on response signal from each dependent station 200 and notifies the control unit 109, and notifies the controller body 121 of the power-on response of each air conditioner. The

  Next, referring to FIG. 2, as an example of the case where a single control station 100 controls a plurality of subordinate stations 200, a sequence in the case where the power of three air conditioners is simultaneously turned on by one controller unit 120 will be described. To do.

  The simultaneous power ON signal transmitted from the controller unit 120 is simultaneously received by the air conditioner 1, the air conditioner 2, and the air conditioner 3. When each air conditioner receives the simultaneous power ON signal, the power is turned ON and an operation of transmitting a power ON response to the controller unit 120 is started. Each air conditioner starts a transmission waiting timer for the time stored in the delay time storage unit, and transmits a power ON response to the controller unit 120 when the timer expires (T1, T2, T3). The time stored in the delay time storage unit 204 waiting for transmission of the air conditioner 1, the air conditioner 2, and the air conditioner 3 is preset as the air conditioner 1 delay time <the air conditioner 2 delay time <the air conditioner 3 delay time. The power ON response is transmitted to the air conditioner 1 at time T1, the air conditioner 2 at time T2, and the air conditioner 3 at time T3.

Next, a method for setting the delay time stored in the delay time storage unit 204 will be described. The example of the 1st method is a method of setting delay time based on the identification information which a radio part has. Normally, wireless communication devices hold identification information of wireless communication devices in order to identify each other. This identification information is assigned a unique value for each wireless communication device at the time of manufacture. An example of the second method is a method of setting a delay time based on identification information for identifying each wireless communication device in a wireless system such as an extension number. This identification information is given when the wireless communication apparatus is registered in the wireless network, and is a unique value within one wireless network.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment is a wireless communication apparatus that performs TDMA communication, and in the dependent station in the same wireless system that is the object of the present invention, when an event for starting communication with the control station occurs at the same time, each dependent station 2 shows an example of a wireless communication apparatus that distributes a request to start communication sent from the terminal to a control station and avoids collision of wireless signals.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system in which the controller unit 120 and the air conditioner are connected via a wireless network using the wireless communication apparatus that performs TDMA communication according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation during standby of the wireless communication apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation during communication of the wireless communication apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a data format of a slot used in communication of the wireless communication apparatus according to the second embodiment. Table 1 is a frequency table showing the order of the standby frequencies of the wireless communication apparatus according to the second embodiment.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 300 denotes a control station that controls devices on the wireless network. Reference numeral 400 denotes a subordinate station including a non-control device (for example, an air conditioner) on the wireless network controlled by the control station 300. Although a plurality of air conditioners on the wireless network can be connected, the configuration of each air conditioner is the same as that of the dependent station 400 in FIG. Also, blocks having the same functions and effects as those of the system of FIG. 1 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

The radio unit 320 of the control station 300 modulates, amplifies and outputs the antenna 301 and the input data string, amplifies and demodulates the received radio signal, and outputs received data. TDMA-TDD radio communication The radio unit 302 that performs the above, adds a synchronization signal necessary for TDMA-TDD communication and an error detection signal for error detection to the control signal and the communication signal, and generates a transmission data string according to the TDMA frame and slot, From the received data string, error detection processing is performed in accordance with the TDMA frame and slot, and the control signal and communication signal received in the slot without error are output. Waiting for transmission signals from a frame processing unit 303 that notifies the timing of frames and slots and a wireless unit 420 described later. Communication frequency storage unit 30 the order of switching of the wave number is stored
8 and a control unit 310 that controls the entire wireless unit 320.

  The radio unit 420 of the dependent station 400 modulates, amplifies and outputs the antenna 401 and the input data string, amplifies and demodulates the received radio signal, and outputs received data. The radio unit 402 that performs communication, and a control signal and a communication signal, a synchronization signal necessary for TDMA-TDD communication and an error detection signal for error detection are added, and a transmission data string is generated in accordance with the TDMA frame and slot Then, from the received data string, the error detection process is performed in accordance with the TDMA frame and slot, and the control signal and communication signal received in the slot without error are output. A frame processing unit 403 that notifies the timing of frames and slots to 410, and a frequency switching order that the wireless unit 320 waits for are stored. A communication frequency storage unit 408, a transmission timing storage unit 409 for storing the slot and a communication frequency to be transmitted, and a control unit 410 for controlling the whole radio unit 420.

  Next, the operation of the wireless communication apparatus according to the second embodiment configured as described above will be described. In the radio communication apparatus according to the second embodiment, radio unit 320 of control station 300 operates as a control station, and radio unit 420 of each dependent station 400 operates as a dependent station. The state of the wireless unit 320 operating as a control station and the wireless unit 420 operating as a dependent station is determined by placing the control signal of the dependent station 400 such as simultaneous power ON from the control station 300 on the communication signal from the wireless unit 320 to the wireless unit 420. A broadcast communication state to be transmitted, a bidirectional communication state in which a bidirectional wireless link is established and communication is performed in order to transmit a response to a control signal such as simultaneous power ON from the subordinate station 400 to the control station 300; There are three states, the idle state, in which the unit 420 receives and waits for a control signal transmitted from the wireless unit 320.

  First, the operation in the idle state will be described. In the idle state, the wireless unit 320 periodically transmits a control signal in a specific slot in the frame, and a slot (hereinafter referred to as a control slot) that transmits its identification information and control signal by this control signal. ) And the reception frequency (waiting frequency) of the slot that waits for the signal from the wireless unit 420 in the corresponding frame, the calling signal, and the like. At this time, the control slot is transmitted in the format of FIG. 6 (A), the synchronization signal and the error detection signal (CRC 1 in FIG. 6) are added, and the control signal is transmitted in the control data field. .

  That is, the control unit 310 outputs a control signal to the frame processing unit 303 in accordance with the timing of the control slot based on the slot timing notified from the frame processing unit 303. In addition, control unit 310 controls radio unit 302 so as to perform transmission at the frequency for transmitting the control signal. Then, the frame processing unit 303 adds a synchronization signal and a signal for detecting an error in the control data field (CRC 1 in FIG. 6) to the control signal input from the control unit 310, and outputs the control signal to the radio unit 302. Is modulated and amplified by the radio section 302 and transmitted from the antenna 301.

  Further, the wireless unit 320 controls the establishment request of the wireless link from the wireless unit 420 in a receiving slot (hereinafter referred to as a standby slot) excluding the receiving slot corresponding to the control slot among the receiving slots in the frame in the idle state. Receives the signal.

That is, the control unit 310 refers to the communication frequency storage unit 308 in accordance with the timing of the standby slot based on the slot timing notified from the frame processing unit 303, selects the standby frequency based on the index, and selects The wireless unit 302 is controlled so as to receive at the selected frequency. The index is a variable managed by the control unit 310, and is updated by sequentially cycling from 1 to 10 for each frame in accordance with the frame signal notified from the frame processing unit 303. Further, as shown in Table 1, the communication frequency stored in the communication frequency storage unit 308 is stored in association with the above-described index and the standby frequency, and the standby frequency based on the correspondence in Table 1 is determined according to the index. The selected reception operation is performed.

  When the control signal for establishing the wireless link from the wireless unit 420 is received and the received data is output to the frame processing unit 303, the frame processing unit 303 uses the synchronization signal to control the control data field and error detection. Signal is determined, an error is determined, a data string in the control data field in which there is no error, that is, a control signal for requesting establishment of a wireless link is notified to the control unit 310, and bidirectional wireless communication with the wireless unit 420 is performed. The link establishment operation is activated.

  Next, the operation of the wireless unit 320 in the idle state will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows a TDMA-TDD scheme in which one frame is divided into eight slots, slot 1 to slot 8, and wireless unit 320 transmits from slot 1 to slot 4 and wireless unit 420 transmits from slot 5 to slot 8. An example is shown. Further, the control signal is transmitted in the slot 1 using the frequency of fc, and the frame 1 shows an example in which the index for determining the standby frequency starts from 1. Table 1 shows a correspondence example of communication frequencies (standby frequencies) determined from indexes. That is, the wireless unit 320 transmits a control signal using the frequency fc in slot 1 of each frame.

  The radio unit 320 receives the standby slots (slot 6, slot 7, and slot 8 in the example of FIG. 4) while sequentially switching the standby frequency according to the index for each frame. That is, when frame 1 is index 1, reception of the standby slot of frame 1 is performed at frequency f0 corresponding to index 1, and thereafter, as the index is updated for each frame, the reception frequency of the standby slot is also changed. Switching is performed for each frame according to the correspondence between f1, f2,.

  Next, the operation of the wireless unit 420 in the idle state will be described.

  In the idle state, the wireless unit 420 establishes synchronization with the control station supplementary operation state that establishes synchronization with the wireless unit 320 and synchronization with the wireless unit 320 and continues to receive the control signal of the wireless unit 320. Operation is different in the established state.

  First, the operation in the control station supplementary operation state will be described. When synchronization with the wireless unit 320 has not been established yet, for example, immediately after the power is turned on, the wireless unit 420 enters a control station supplementary operation state, and searches for a control signal of the wireless unit 320 by continuous reception. An operation for establishing synchronization of frames, slots, and standby frequencies (indexes) is performed. In order to receive the control signal of the wireless unit 320, the wireless unit 420 continuously receives the frequency fc at which the wireless unit 320 is transmitting the control signal, and performs a supplementary operation of the wireless unit 320. The wireless unit 320 receives the control signal of the wireless unit 320 by continuous reception, receives the information of the transmission slot number and standby frequency (index) used to transmit the control signal included in the control signal of the wireless unit 320, and the wireless unit The frame, slot, and standby frequency (index) synchronization with 320 is established.

  That is, the control unit 410 controls the wireless unit 402 so as to continuously receive at the control signal transmission frequency fc.

Then, the reception data string received and demodulated by the radio unit 402 is output to the frame processing unit 403. The frame processing unit 403 detects the synchronization signal included in the received data string. When the synchronization signal is detected, the control data field and the error detection signal are separated based on the synchronization signal, and the received error detection is performed. The control data field error is determined based on the signal for use, and if it is determined that reception is normal, the received data string of the received control data field is output to the control unit 410.

  The control unit 410 analyzes the received data string input from the frame processing unit 403, determines whether or not the wireless unit 320 is to wait based on the identification information of the wireless unit 320 included in the control signal, If the wireless unit 320 is about to wait, control is performed so as to shift to an intermittent reception operation for each frame. That is, the control unit 410 controls the wireless unit 402 so as to perform reception in accordance with the timing of the slot that previously received the control signal of the wireless unit 320.

  When the information of the transmission slot number and the standby frequency (index) used to transmit the control signal included in the control signal transmitted by the wireless unit 320 is received, the wireless unit 320 and the slot are synchronized and the standby frequency is synchronized. That is, establish index synchronization. The control unit 410 determines the slot that has received the control signal based on the slot number included in the received control signal, and notifies the frame processing unit 403 of the slot number that has received the control signal.

  The frame processing unit 403 changes the timing so that the slot that received the control signal is received by the notified slot number, and shifts to a state where TDMA synchronization with the wireless unit 320 is established, and the control unit 410 transfers the TDMA to the TDMA. It operates to notify the timing of frames and slots. Further, the control unit 410 receives the information on the standby frequency (index) of the standby slot of the control station included in the control signal, synchronizes with the control of the standby frequency in the standby slot of the control station, and performs the link establishing operation. The index update control for determining the transmission frequency of the transmission slot (control station standby slot) is started.

  In this way, the wireless unit 420 that has established the synchronization of the frame, slot, and standby frequency with the wireless unit 320 changes from the control station supplementary operation state to the synchronization establishment state that continuously receives the control signal of the control station. Thereafter, the control unit 410 updates the index for each frame based on the frame / slot timing notified from the frame processing unit 403, and adjusts the reception frequency of the radio unit 402 in accordance with the control slot timing. Is set to fc, and control is performed to receive the control slot.

  Next, the operation in the broadcast communication state will be described. When it is detected by the operation unit 122 of the control station 300 that the simultaneous power-on operation of the air conditioner has been performed and the controller main body 121 requests the control unit 310 to transmit the simultaneous power-on, the control station 300 In 420, a transition is made to a broadcast communication state in which a communication signal is transmitted.

  First, the control unit 310 performs control based on the frame and slot timing notified from the frame processing unit 303 in order to transmit a control signal (hereinafter referred to as broadcast information) for notifying the start of transmission of a communication signal. Broadcast information is output to the frame processing unit 303 in accordance with the slot timing. The frame processing unit 303 puts broadcast information on the control data field, attaches a synchronization signal and an error detection signal, and outputs the signal to the radio unit 302. The radio unit 302 modulates the data string input from the frame processing unit 303 and transmits the antenna. Broadcast information is transmitted via 301. Subsequently, the control unit 310 notifies the frame processing unit 303 of the start of transmission of the communication signal.

After notifying the frame processing unit 303 of the start of transmission of the communication signal, the control unit 310 matches the timing of the control slot that transmits the communication signal based on the frame and slot timing of the control slot notified from the frame processing unit 303. Then, a communication signal for notifying simultaneous power ON from the controller main body 121 is output to the frame processing unit 303. The frame processing unit 303 operates to configure transmission data in the format shown in FIG. 6B after the transmission start of the communication signal is notified from the control unit 310, and converts the communication signal input from the control unit 310 into information data. Operates to send in the field. In addition, the control unit 310 performs power control of the transmission circuit of the wireless unit 302 in accordance with the format of FIG.

  Next, the operation of the wireless unit 420 in the broadcast communication state will be described. In the idle state, the wireless unit 420 receives the control signal transmitted from the wireless unit 320. When the wireless unit 420 receives the broadcast information transmitted by the wireless unit 320 in the corresponding slot, the wireless unit 420 changes from the idle state to the broadcast communication state. Transition. When receiving the broadcast information, the control unit 410 of the wireless unit 420 controls the frame processing unit 403 and the wireless unit 402 so as to receive the control slot and the signal in the format shown in FIG. 6B.

  As described above, when the state transits to the broadcast communication state and a communication signal is transmitted from the wireless unit 320, the wireless signal of the corresponding slot is received and demodulated by the wireless unit 402 of the wireless unit 420, and the received data string is a frame. The data is output to the processing unit 403. The frame processing unit 403 separates the communication signal sent in the information data field and the error detection signal based on the synchronization signal of the received data string of the slot that receives the communication signal, and if there is no error, the received communication signal Is notified to the control unit 410. Control unit 410 outputs the notified communication signal to air conditioner body 220. The air conditioner body 220 controls the operating state of the air conditioner based on the notified communication signal.

  As described above, when the simultaneous power ON is notified from the control station 300, the air conditioner main body turns on the power of the air conditioner main body, and notifies the control station 100 of an operation state change notification, that is, a power ON response signal. Move to the notification operation.

  Next, the operation in the bidirectional communication state for notifying each control station 300 of a response signal from each dependent station 400 will be described.

  When a request for transmitting a power ON response signal is sent from the air conditioner body 220 to the control unit 410, the state shifts to a bidirectional communication state in which a communication signal is transmitted to the wireless unit 320.

  When a request for transmission of a power ON response signal is made from the air conditioner main body 220 to the control unit 410, the control unit 410 of the wireless unit 420 refers to the transmission timing storage unit 409, determines a communication slot and a communication frequency, and determines the wireless unit. A control signal for establishing a radio link is output to the frame processing unit 403 based on the slot timing notified from the frame processing unit 403 in accordance with the control of the standby frequency of the 320 standby slots. The frame processing unit 403 places a control signal for establishing a wireless link in the control data field, adds a synchronization signal and an error detection signal to the wireless unit 402, and the wireless unit 402 receives the input from the frame processing unit 403. A data string is modulated and a control signal for requesting establishment of a radio link is transmitted via the antenna 401. In addition, the control unit 410 transmits a control signal for establishing a radio link so as to wait for a response from the radio unit 320 in a slot that has a predetermined positional relationship with the slot that has transmitted the control signal for establishing a radio link. The radio unit 402 and the frame processing unit 403 are controlled to start reception using the same communication frequency as that used in the slot.

When a response signal is received from the wireless unit 320, a communication signal for notifying a response signal for turning on the power is output to the frame processing unit 403 in accordance with the timing of the transmission slot notified from the frame processing unit 403. The frame processing unit 403 generates a transmission data string by adding a synchronization signal and an error detection signal (CRC2) to the information data field in the slot that transmitted the wireless link establishment request, and outputs it to the wireless unit 402 At the same time, the communication signal and the error detection signal (CRC2) are separated based on the synchronization signal from the received data string of the slot for receiving (the slot that has received the response signal) input from the wireless unit 402, and the slot that has no error. The communication signal is output to the control unit 410.

  On the other hand, when the wireless unit 320 receives a wireless link establishment request from the wireless unit 420 in the standby slot, the wireless unit 320 transmits a response signal in a slot that has a predetermined positional relationship with the slot that has received the wireless link establishment request. Communicating when the wireless link establishment request is received and the communication frequency of the slot that has a predetermined positional relationship with the slot that has received the wireless link establishment request and the slot that has received the wireless link establishment request thereafter. It operates so as to perform communication of bidirectional communication signals with the frequency fixed.

  That is, when the control unit 310 receives a wireless link establishment request from the wireless unit 420, the control unit 310 outputs a response signal to the frame processing unit 303. The frame processing unit 303 puts the response signal in the control data field and outputs the synchronization signal. An error detection signal is attached and output to the radio unit 302. The radio unit 302 modulates the data sequence input from the frame processing unit 303 and transmits a response signal via the antenna 301.

  Thereafter, the control unit 310 outputs the communication signal to the frame processing unit 303, and the frame processing unit 303 puts the communication signal input from the control unit 310 in the information data field in the slot in which the response signal is transmitted. And an error detection signal (CRC2) are added to generate a transmission data sequence, which is output to the radio unit 302, and based on the synchronization signal from the received data sequence of the slot that received the radio link establishment request input from the radio unit 302. The communication signal and the error detection signal (CRC2) are separated from each other, and the communication signal of the slot having no error is output to the control unit 310. Then, control unit 310 outputs the communication signal received from dependent station 400 to controller body 121.

  As described above, if the communication signal received from the dependent station 400 is a response to the power ON, the controller main body 121 displays that the power of the dependent station 400 is turned on and notifies the user. When the controller main body 121 receives the power-on response, the controller main body 121 requests the control unit 310 to transmit a response reception confirmation. The communication signal for notifying the response reception confirmation is transmitted to the dependent station 400 using the communication path for bidirectional communication with the already established dependent station 400 described above. Then, the dependent station 400 receives the response reception confirmation to disconnect the bidirectional communication, and the wireless unit 420 transitions to the idle state.

  Next, the transition from the broadcast communication state to the bidirectional communication state will be described with reference to FIG. In the example of FIG. 5, the control slot is slot 1 and bidirectional communication is started using slot 3 and slot 7. Also, an example is shown in which the index starts from frame 21 and the reception communication frequency of the standby slot starts with f0. Also, the numbers in the transmission / reception columns of the control station side and the dependent station (air conditioner side) in FIG. 5 indicate the frequency (f is omitted, and 1 indicates f1).

  In FIG. 5, when the wireless unit 420 starts shifting to the two-way communication state, the wireless unit 420 waits for the wireless unit 320 based on the transmission slot and communication frequency stored in the transmission timing storage unit 409. One slot is selected, and transmission is started in accordance with the control of the communication frequency of the standby slot of the wireless unit 320. The example of FIG. 5 shows an example in which the wireless unit receives an event (for example, a power-on notification) that requires two-way communication in the frame 21 and shifts to a two-way communication state. An example of shifting to a bidirectional communication state when the transmission slot stored in the storage unit 409 is 7 and the communication frequency is f1 (index = 2) is shown.

  In FIG. 5, the slave station (wireless unit 420) that has received an event that requires bidirectional communication from the control station (wireless unit 320) in frame 21 has a communication frequency f1 that the control station (wireless unit 320) waits for. Waiting for the frame 22 to become, transmission starts in the slot 7. After frame 23, bidirectional communication with the wireless unit 320 is started at the communication frequency f1 in the slot 7 and the slot 3 corresponding to the slot 7.

  On the other hand, when the control station (the radio unit 320 receives a request for establishment of a radio link in the slot 7 of the frame 22, the communication frequency when the request for establishment of the radio link is received in the slot 3 corresponding to the slot 7 in the next frame 23. A response signal is transmitted at the same communication frequency f1, and thereafter, bidirectional communication with the dependent station (wireless unit 420) is started at the communication frequency f1 in the slot 7 and the slot 3 corresponding to the slot 7.

  Next, the transition from the bidirectional communication state to the idle state will be described. As described above, the slave station 400 receives a simultaneous power-on notification by broadcast communication, transmits a power-on response signal by bidirectional communication, and receives a communication signal for notifying a response reception confirmation. The control unit 410 outputs a disconnection control signal to the frame processing unit 403 in synchronization with the timing of the slot that is transmitting the bidirectional communication, and the disconnection control signal is transmitted when the control signal for establishing the radio link is transmitted. It is transmitted to the wireless unit 402 in the same manner as above. When the control signal for confirming the disconnection is received from the control station 300, the transmission / reception of the slot in which the two-way communication has been performed is stopped, the control shifts to the reception of only the control slot, and the state transitions to the idle state.

  On the other hand, when receiving the disconnection control signal from the dependent station 400, the control station 300 controls the disconnection confirmation in the same manner as when the response signal for the request for establishment of the radio link is transmitted in the slot that has transmitted the communication signal. A signal is transmitted, transmission / reception of the slot that was performing bidirectional communication is stopped, and a transition is made to an idle state in which a control signal is transmitted in the control slot.

  Next, the setting of the transmission start timing on the dependent station side according to the second embodiment will be described. Each air conditioner of the second embodiment has a timing at which transmission of a radio signal is actually started when an event for starting transmission communication occurs, such as a response signal transmission for simultaneous power ON as in the example described above. , Determined by the stored contents of the transmission timing storage unit 409.

  When a plurality of air conditioners are controlled by a single control station, different values are stored for the slots and communication frequencies of the transmission timing storage unit of each air conditioner. One example of a method of setting different values is a method of determining based on the identification number of each air conditioner. That is, when a plurality of air conditioners are controlled by the control station, each air conditioner is registered in advance in the control station, and at this time, one non-overlapping number is assigned to each air conditioner by the control station. Based on the number, the slot of the transmission timing storage unit 409 and the communication frequency are determined. For example, an air conditioner assigned number 1 communicates with a slot according to a certain rule based on the assigned numbers such as slot 5, communication frequency f1, and air conditioner assigned number 2, such as slot 6, communication frequency f2. Determine the frequency.

  Next, the number of subordinate stations registered in the control station of the wireless communication apparatus of the present invention will be described.

  Since the transmission timing is determined by the combination of the slot and the communication frequency, in order to avoid call collision at the time of simultaneous transmission, the number of subordinate stations that can be registered in one control station is (number of available slots × communication frequency). Number). Therefore, by increasing the communication frequency depending on the number of dependent stations, it is possible to avoid a call collision without depending on the number of dependent stations.

  In addition, when the number of dependent stations is small, it is also effective to assign only the slots used at the time of transmission to the dependent stations.

  For example, in the example of the second embodiment, when three air conditioners are controlled by one control station, only a slot used for transmission is stored in the transmission timing storage unit 209, and a transmission slot is assigned to each air conditioner. It is valid. In this case, when a transmission start event occurs, each air conditioner can immediately start transmission at the communication frequency that the control station waits for using the slot assigned to each air conditioner in the next frame. It is possible to shorten the waiting time from the occurrence of the start event to the start of communication.

  In the above description of the second embodiment, a method has been described in which each dependent station selects one slot or a combination of a slot and a communication frequency to start communication, and communicates with the control station. As another application example, a method of storing a plurality of slots to be used at the time of communication or a combination of slots and communication frequencies in the transmission timing storage unit 409, setting a priority order, and selecting in order of priority is also possible. In this method, the slot with the highest priority, or the combination of the slot and the communication frequency, such as when the first selected slot is in use or communication cannot be performed at the selected communication frequency due to interference or the like. If the connection with the control station cannot be established, communication with the control station can be attempted again with the slot with the next highest priority, or with a combination of the slot and the communication frequency.

  Table 2 shows an example of combinations of a plurality of slots and communication frequencies with priorities stored in the transmission timing storage unit 409. Table 2 shows combinations of slots and communication frequencies selected by four subordinate stations during communication. For example, subordinate station 1 first communicates with the control station at slot 5 and communication frequency f0 at the start of communication. When the connection with the control station fails, the communication with the control station is performed at the next slot 6 and the communication frequency f1. It operates to communicate with the control station using a combination of priority slots and communication frequencies. According to Table 2, when each dependent station starts communication at the same time, for example, when slot 5 cannot be used for bidirectional communication due to the opposite slot of the transmission slot of the control signal from the control station, the dependent station 1 It operates to communicate with the control station at the priority slot 6 and the communication frequency f1.

  On the other hand, the dependent station 2 also operates to perform communication in the slot 6, but since the selected frequency is different, no call collision occurs. After the transmission start event occurs, if the standby frequency of the control station becomes f0 that the dependent station 2 tries to transmit before f1 that the dependent station 1 wants to transmit, in slot 6, the control station and the dependent station 2 Communication with is started. After that, even if transmission is started to the control station at the frequency from the dependent station 1 to f1, the communication frequency between the control station and the dependent station 2 is different from the communication frequency between the control station and the dependent station 2. There is nothing.

  Next, the operation when all slots are in use will be described. If the number of subordinate stations is larger than the number of slots in which the control station can communicate at the same time, it may occur that all slots are in use. In such a system, when each of the dependent stations 1 to 4 performs an operation of starting communication at the same time, in order to select a slot efficiently, the control station can obtain information on a slot in use or an available slot. The dependent station is notified by the control signal, and the dependent station operates to select an empty slot according to the slot use status notified from the controlling station and to communicate with the controlling station.

  That is, when a communication start event occurs, the dependent station selects a combination of a slot having a higher priority and a communication frequency from the transmittable slots notified from the control station, and performs an operation to start communication. . If all slots are in use, wait until the control station notifies that one of the slots is empty (can be transmitted), and after being notified that the slot is empty, The communication frequency is selected according to the priority order and operates to start transmission.

  Next, the case where one control station can communicate with the dependent stations 1 to 4 that select the slot and the communication frequency in the priority order shown in Table 2 and the dependent stations other than the dependent stations 1 to 4 will be described. For example, in a state where all slots are in use because the control station is communicating with a dependent station other than the dependent stations 1 to 4, the dependent stations 1 to 4 are in a state in which any one of the slots 5 to 8 becomes usable. Communication cannot be started. When a transmission start event occurs in all the dependent stations 1 to 4 in Table 2 while all slots are in use, each dependent station can use any one of slots 5 to 8 from the control station. Wait until you are notified that the status has been reached.

  When the control station notifies that the slot has become available when one slot becomes available, each subordinate station communicates with the control station in the available slot. Start the action to start. At this time, each of the dependent stations 1 to 4 starts operation to start communication with the control station in the same slot at the same time, but since the communication frequency selected by each dependent station is different, the actual transmission start is started. Timing, that is, transmission start frames do not overlap, and each transmission signal does not interfere with communication of other dependent stations. The combination of slot and communication frequency has a different pattern for each dependent station, and the selection order of the slot and communication frequency of each dependent station is different when each dependent station operates to perform communication in the same slot. It is decided to select the communication frequency. Each dependent station switches the slot according to the priority, and the communication frequency selected by each dependent station differs from frame to frame, so the actual transmission start timing (slots in the frame) does not overlap.

  For example, when slot 6 becomes available, dependent station 1 operates to start transmission at the communication frequency of f1, dependent station 2 operates to start transmission at the communication frequency of f0, The dependent station 3 operates to start transmission at the communication frequency of f3, and the dependent station 4 operates to start transmission at the communication frequency of f2, and different communication frequencies are selected to perform the operation of starting communication. .

  As described above, when each dependent station selects a slot and a communication frequency in accordance with the priority order, the selection order of the slot and the communication frequency of each dependent station is such that each dependent station operates to perform communication in the same slot. It is also decided to select a different communication frequency. In addition, the slots selected by each dependent station are evenly distributed over the entire transmittable slots.

(Embodiment 3)
Furthermore, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The third embodiment is a wireless communication apparatus that performs TDMA communication using a standby frequency system as in the second embodiment. In the subordinate station in the same wireless system that is the object of the present invention, communication is simultaneously performed to the control station. An example of a wireless communication apparatus that distributes a request to start communication sent from each dependent station to a control station when a start event occurs and avoids collision of wireless signals is shown.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a dependent station in a system in which a control station and a dependent station are connected by a wireless network using the wireless communication apparatus that performs TDMA communication of the present invention in the third embodiment.

  In the third embodiment, the block configuration on the control station (control station) side is the same as that of the control station 300 of the second embodiment, and a description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 7, blocks having the same effects and operations as those of the dependent stations of the first and second embodiments are given the same numbers, and description thereof is omitted.

In FIG. 7, the radio unit 520 of the dependent station 500 has a value from 0 to (number of usable slots × communication frequency−1) every predetermined time since the power is turned on, instead of the transmission timing storage unit 409 of FIG. 3. A timing unit 531 that circulates and counts, a transmission slot at the start of transmission based on the value counted by the timing unit 531, and a transmission timing determination unit 530 that determines a communication frequency are provided to control the wireless unit 520. A control unit 510 is provided.
Next, the operation of the wireless communication apparatus according to the third embodiment configured as described above will be described. The wireless communication apparatus according to the third embodiment is different from the wireless communication apparatus according to the second embodiment in the method of determining the transmission timing when transmitting from the dependent station side to the control station side. Do.

  When power of wireless unit 520 of Embodiment 3 is turned on, timer unit 531 starts counting up. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a frame is divided into eight slots from slot 1 to slot 8, and the control station transmits from slot 1 to slot 4 and the dependent station transmits from slot 5 to slot 8. In TDD, when there are 10 communication frequencies as shown in Table 1, the number of transmission slots that can be used by a dependent station for bidirectional communication is the number of transmission slots corresponding to the slot in which the control station transmits a control signal. Since there are three slots excluded, the time measuring unit 531 takes values from 0 to 29. The transmission timing determination unit 530 then associates 30 combinations of the three slots and 10 communication frequencies with the values from 0 to 29 of the time measuring unit 531, and communicates with the transmission slot based on the value of the time measuring unit 531. Determine the frequency combination.

  Then, as in the second embodiment, when an event for transmission from the air conditioner main body 220 to the control unit 510 is received, for example, by receiving a simultaneous power ON signal from the control station 300, the control unit 510 transmits the transmission timing. The transmission slot and communication frequency determined by the determination unit 530 are read, a slot and a communication frequency to be transmitted are determined, and transmission to the control station 300 is started.

In the example of the third embodiment, the example of the method for determining the transmission slot and the communication frequency based on the elapsed time from the power-on of the wireless unit has been described. By determining the transmission slot and communication frequency based on the values that change independently for each dependent station at the start of communication, such as the elapsed time from the start, a transmission start event occurs simultaneously at multiple dependent stations In this case, the frequency of occurrence of call collision can be reduced.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the actual transmission start timing from the occurrence of a communication start event is delayed based on a unique value for each wireless communication device or a value that changes for each event occurrence. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a call collision when a communication start event occurs simultaneously in a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses, and it is possible to improve connectivity with a control station.

  Also, in the case of a wireless communication device using the TDMA communication method, a plurality of wireless communication devices can be obtained while changing a slot to be transmitted for each wireless communication device to reduce a delay in actual transmission start timing from occurrence of a communication start event. In this case, it is possible to avoid a call collision when a communication start event occurs at the same time, and it is possible to improve the connectivity with the control station without deteriorating the response speed.

  In this embodiment, an example in which control signals are communicated by a control station and a plurality of subordinate stations in the wireless communication device of the present invention is shown, but also in a voice communication wireless communication device such as a cordless phone, Has a beneficial effect. For example, in a cordless telephone used in a general home, a large number of cases are composed of about two or three slave units (subordinate stations) in one master unit (control station).

  For example, a DECT-type cordless telephone divides one frame into 24 slots, and performs time division multiplexing with a frame configuration of 12 base station transmission slots and 12 base station transmission slots. In this case, the number of slots that can be used for bidirectional communication between the parent and child devices is 11, excluding the control slot. If the number of child devices registered in one parent device is 11, each child can be used. It is possible to assign the slots used by the machine during communication without duplication. Each slave unit communicates using a different slot, so that when a plurality of users perform outgoing calls simultaneously, each slave unit transmits to the master unit in the same slot. Since it does not start, it is possible to eliminate the risk of connection failure due to radio interference due to call collision at the start of communication.

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, and when a communication start event occurs simultaneously in a plurality of wireless communication devices, the frequency of transmission failures such as transmission failure due to mutual wireless interference due to collision of transmissions is reduced. There is an advantage of doing.

1 is a block diagram of a system in which a control station and a dependent station are wirelessly connected in the wireless communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Sequence diagram when three air conditioners are simultaneously turned on by one control station 1 is a block diagram of a system in which a control station and a dependent station using a wireless communication apparatus performing TDMA communication according to the present invention are connected by a wireless network. Explanatory drawing explaining operation | movement in standby of a radio | wireless communication apparatus Explanatory drawing explaining operation | movement during communication of a radio | wireless communication apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows the data format used by communication of a wireless communication apparatus 1 is a block diagram of a system in which a control station and a dependent station using a wireless communication apparatus performing TDMA communication according to the present invention are connected by a wireless network.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Control station 101 Antenna 102 Radio | wireless part 103 Event detection part 109 Control part 110 Radio | wireless unit 120 Controller unit 121 Controller main body 200 Dependent station 201 Antenna 202 Radio | wireless part 203 Event detection part 204 Delay time memory | storage part 209 Control part 210 Wireless unit 220 Air-conditioner main body

Claims (11)

A radio unit that transmits and receives radio signals, a detection unit that detects an event of radio communication, and time information that delays a time from when the event of the radio communication is detected by the detection unit to the start of radio communication is stored. A storage unit; and a control unit that controls to start the wireless communication with a delay based on the time information stored in the storage unit after the detection unit detects the wireless communication event. Wireless communication device. A wireless communication apparatus for performing time-division multiplexing wireless communication in which one section of a predetermined time interval is divided into a plurality of time slots and independent signal communication is performed in each of the time slots. A radio unit for transmitting and receiving data, frame processing means for processing data of frames and slots for time division multiplex communication, and storage means for storing information for switching slots used at the time of communication in a different order for each apparatus , Comprising an instruction means for instructing the start of communication and a control means, and when the start of communication is instructed by the instruction means, control is performed so that communication is performed using a slot determined based on information stored in the storage means A wireless communication device. 3. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein information based on an extension number of the wireless communication apparatus is stored in the storage unit, and a transmission slot is determined based on the extension number. 3. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein information based on a unique number that is different for each wireless communication apparatus is stored in the storage unit, and a transmission slot is determined based on the unique number. A wireless communication device that performs time division multiplexing wireless communication that divides one section of a predetermined time interval into a plurality of time slots and performs independent signal communication in each of the time slots,
A radio unit for transmitting and receiving radio signals;
Frame processing means for performing data processing of frames and slots for time division multiplex communication, selection means for selecting communication slots,
Instruction means for instructing communication start;
Comprising control means for controlling the entire device;
When the start of communication is instructed by the instruction unit, the selection unit selects a transmission slot based on a variable generated inside the wireless communication device, and controls to perform communication using the selected slot. A featured wireless communication device. 6. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the selection unit selects a communication slot based on an elapsed time from when the power is turned on. 6. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the selection unit selects a communication slot based on an elapsed time from the previous communication. A control station that transmits a reference signal serving as a reference for a frame and a slot used for time-division multiplex communication; and a reference signal transmitted from the control station, and communicates with the control station in synchronization with the frame and the slot. Consists of one subordinate station,
The control station notifies a reception frequency waiting for transmission from the dependent station, and the dependent station determines a transmission frequency to be used and performs transmission according to the standby reception frequency notified from the control station. Because
When starting communication from a dependent station to a control station, the dependent station operates so as to preferentially use one or both of a communication slot and a communication frequency predetermined for each dependent station. A featured wireless communication device. 9. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein one or both of a communication slot and a communication frequency used preferentially by the dependent station are determined based on a number assigned to each dependent station. A control station that transmits a reference signal serving as a reference for a frame and a slot used for time-division multiplex communication; and a reference signal transmitted from the control station, and communicates with the control station in synchronization with the frame and the slot. A wireless communication system configured with one subordinate station,
The control station notifies a reception frequency waiting for transmission from the dependent station, the dependent station determines a transmission frequency to be used and performs transmission according to the standby reception frequency notified from the control station,
When starting communication from a dependent station to a control station, each dependent station determines one or both of a communication slot and a communication frequency by a predetermined method based on a variable in the dependent station, and the determination is made. A wireless communication system that operates to preferentially use one or both of the communication slot and the communication frequency. It consists of a control station that performs time-division multiplexing radio communication and a plurality of subordinate stations. When a subordinate station transmits a request for establishing a radio link to the control station at an arbitrary timing, a plurality of subordinate stations simultaneously become control stations. There is a wireless communication system in which an event for starting communication may occur. Each subordinate station detects a wireless communication event, and the wireless communication event is detected after the detection means detects the wireless communication event. Storage means for storing time information for delaying the time until the start,
When an event occurs in which a plurality of subordinate stations simultaneously start communication with the control station, the subordinate station determines the time from the occurrence of the event to the start of wireless communication based on the time information stored in the storage means. A wireless communication system characterized by starting wireless communication with a delay.

Images